Thursday, February 27, 2014

Everything starts with a single step. If you feel like watching a movie out of the ordinary please join a group of Japanese tonight for the movie showing of "negative : nothing" by Jan Knüesel e Stephan Knüesel.

March 11th marks a turning point in the life of Swiss travel agent Thomas Köhler. After the Tsunami and the nuclear disaster in Japan he loses all his customers, and eventually his job. Nevertheless, giving up is not an option. He decides to walk through Japan, 2900 kilometers from north to south, in order to show that not all of Japan is Fukushima. A trip of a lifetime starts through a country trying to cope with its biggest crisis since the end of World War II, but never losing hope for better days. The documentary film «Negative: Nothing» is a journey that changes the life of a travel agent forever and gives hope and strength to a nation. Even the longest journey starts with a single step.

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Lugano celebrates its carnival called Carnevale "Ul Sbroja" with a programme of events that animates the city during the entire carnival period. It begins the week before "Mardi Gras" with the visit of the King and Queen Sbroja to various nursing homes.

On Thursday the procession of Lugano's school children is held, which is followed by the delivery of the city keys to the rulers. Next Monday there will be the classic risotto offered to the population in Piazza della Reforma.

The childrens' carnevale is the occasion for a great party for children, teens and adults! A chance to spend an afternoon of joy and pure fun! Don't miss the departure of the local city schools' parade accompanied by 3 Guggenmusic bands in Piazza Riforma at 2pm.

At 15:30 - arrival in Piazza della Reforma - a snack will be provided for everyone and you'll be able to assist the handing over of the keys to the King and Queen Sbroja.

Thursday, February 20, 2014

If you are an expat you surely have heard about the Expat Expo that is returning to Lugano for the third year. If not, this is your chance to get to meet and greet many expats and like-minded locals who are offering their services, knowledge, expertise and products.

50 exhibitors from all over Switzerland along with many local companies and clubs from Lugano will be on hand to greet you and introduce you to their specialties and make you feel more at home in Ticino, whether you are here for a week or a lifetime! Join them for a day of discovery!

The Expat Expo was a huge success last year and lots of fun. It is a chance to meet and learn about clubs, schools, businesses and services that cater to the English speaking community in the Ticino.

Michael from The British Cheese Centre will be there with a big selection of artisanal cheeses from the UK. Mark from The Whisky Experience will be on-hand to pour samples of their famous single malts.

The U.S. Embassy will provide information about and answer your questions about U.S. Citizenship, Visas to the United States and any other questions which U.S. citizens may have. Sorry, they cannot give advice on U.S. taxes or IRS policies.

4 Events Entertainment specializes in Balloon Sculpting and Face Paintingfor children's birthday parties and events. Balloon figures are fun to watchthe creation of and fun to play with. Face painting adds to the magic of imagination and make believe...a fun mask for any child!

Kids, join the 4 Events team at the free Bouncy Castle!

IWCL will be there and, FYI, there are still tables available. Get in touch with the organizers if you want to join. Please spread the word among your friends and associates.

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Get ready to dance to the SOUNDS of the 80’s/90’s. You won't have to stay up and wait until midnight to go out either because, once again, Choco-Late is opening its doors just for the International Women's Club of Lugano.

Don't miss an evening with friends and fun on Thursday, February 20th, 2014.

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

It's Friday night and you are longing to go out for a romantic dinner with your partner? Or you are dying to hit town with your buddies? Or you just want to have a night off and go to the movies?

All this is possible, as long as you have someone looking after your kids. Unfortunately Granny and Grandpa aren't at hand and neither is a babysitter. This is were SUPERTATA Alessia comes to the rescue.

This resourceful lady has launched a brilliant initiative: starting as of now, every Friday you could have a chance to enjoy a quite evening out with your sweetheart. Alessia is offering baby-sitting service from 7 to 10 pm which includes dinner, games and activities for children ages 5 to 12. Even older siblings can join the fun if they still want to be looked after together with the little ones. That's what I call service. The cost is CHF 20,- per hour/per family. Reservation only!

She is planning to run the service every Friday if the feedback is positive.

Should you have younger childen, www.supertata.ch could help you find a baby-sitter to take care of your little ones at home.

So, be sure to check her site or contact her directly at: info@supertata.ch.

Valentine's Day is all about love. Rather than rushing out to buy a last minute gift, share some time with your loved ones. Here are some sweet Valentine's coupons that I came across on the net.

The premade coupons for kids, include dessert before dinner or one day without chores; and adults, include breakfast in bed or a meal out at their favorite restaurant. Plus, you'll find some blank coupons so you can write your own - just open the blank PDF and type in your coupon text, or print them onto cardstock and handwrite them.

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

So far, I have not had the pleasure of flying Air New Zealand but judging by their latest onboard safety video it sure looks tempting.

Air New Zealand has a bit of a reputation when it comes to safety videos. Previous versions of the video - starring anything from Hobbits to Bear Grylls to New Zealand's all conquering All Blacks rugby team - have revolutionized the on-board safety message airlines deliver to passengers.

Their latest version (released on Tuesday) has gone viral, however, it has hit some turbulence after the airline teamed up with Sports Illustrated magazine to produce what it's calling "the world's most beautiful safety video."

Fun or offensive, either way, Air New Zealand actually get their customers watching and interpreting and internalizing their safety messages, better than - I would argue - anyone else, because they get their attention with the video.

I sure wouldn't mind a little creativity and fantasy in those monotonous but nevertheless vitally important onboard videos. You decide what looks better: Cooks Island or the Sports Illustrated Models?

Sunday, February 9, 2014

Have you not been hit by the Olympic spirit yet? Or are you glued to the TV since Friday night? Either way, did you know that Switzerland hosted the Winter Olympics on two occasions? In 1928 and 1948, both times the games were held in St.Moritz. At the time there were 464 and 669 participants respectively.

This is what it looked like:

The U.S. women's ski team shows off their stylish uniforms

at the '48 Games in snowy St. Moritz.

Judges hold up scorecards at the 1948 Winter Olympics,

the first Winter Olympics to be held in the wake of World War II.

The 1928 Winter Olympics featured two demonstration sports:
skijoring and military patrol

Alpine skiing was not an event yet!

In 1948 two rival American Olympic Hockey teams showed up, confused organizers allowed one to play and the other to march in the opening ceremonies.

Wednesday, February 5, 2014

“What if Alexander Graham Bell's name were Alexander Graham Siren? The phone wouldn't ring, it would GO OFF!! EERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!! HELLO! HELLO!!”
George Carlin

So we all know that the Swiss are extremly cautious citizens. They have the right protection for every possible situtation. The prejudice that Switzerland is a country of insurance is absolutely true. The avereage Swiss household (2,23 persons) will spend approx. CHF 1700.-/month for mandatory insurance, including health insurance and contributions to social security or else CHF 20,400.- per year.
Did you know, however, that more than CHF 50 billion are spent each year for non-compulsory insurance, that's CHF 6588.- per head.

But it doesn't stop there.

Be prepared because on February 5th, 2014 the annual test of the sirens will be held in Switzerland between 13:30 and 15:00. 8500 mobile and stationary civil-defense sirens which can alert 99% of the population, will be tested. Sirens for this alert have a regularly ascending and descending tone lasting a minute and repeated after a two-minute interval. Following that, the 700 water alarms, will resonate twelve low sounds lasting 20 seconds each between 14.15 and 15.00 in downstream areas of dams.

Every year, on the first Wednesday of February, Switzerland's sirens are tested. During this test, general alert sirens as well as the sirens near dams are tested to see if they are in working order. The population is informed of the test days ahead by radio, television, teletext and newspapers. The siren tests do not require the population to take any special measures.

Introduced during wartime, they are now used to alert the population to impending catastrophes or water dangers such as flooding. The population is instructed to inform those around them to proceed inside. Once inside, people are instructed to listen to emergency broadcasts made by the Swiss Radio and/or TV.

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Things I've learned from my children:

Always look in the oven before you turn it on. Plastic toys do not like ovens.

The spin cycle on the washing machine does not make earth worms dizzy. It will, however, make cats dizzy.

Cats throw up twice their body weight when dizzy.

Marbles in gas tanks make lots of noise when driving.

Garbage bags do not make good parachutes.

No matter how much Jell-O you put in a swimming pool you still can't walk on water.

Pool filters do not like Jell-O.

Super glue is forever.

Play Dough and Microwave should never be used in the same sentence.

Certain LEGOs will pass through the digestive Tract of a four year old.

A six year old can start a fire with a flint rock even though a 36 year old man says they can only do it in the movies. A magnifying glass can start a fire, even on an overcast day.

Brake fluid mixed with Clorox makes smoke, and lots of it.

When you hear the toilet flush and the words "Uh-oh," it's already too late.

You should not throw baseballs up when the ceiling fan is on. When using the ceiling fan as a bat, you Have to throw the ball up a few times before you get a hit. A ceiling fan can hit a baseball a long way.

The glass in windows (even double pane) doesn't Stop a baseball hit by a ceiling fan.

A king size waterbed holds enough water to fill a 2000 sq. foot house 4 inches deep.

If you spray hair spray on dust bunnies and run over them with roller blades, they can ignite.

If you hook a dog leash over a ceiling fan, the Motor is not strong enough to rotate a 42 pound boy wearing Batman underwear and a superman cape. It is strong enough, however, if tied to a paint can, to spread paint on all four walls of a 20 by 20 foot room.